Seat-finder



G. S. PYLE.

SEAT FINDER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY a. 1918. v

Patented Feb. 24, 1920.

George S Pyle ITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE. c

GEORGE S. IYLE, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOB, OF ONE-HALF TO E. J. CLINTON,

OF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA.

SEAT-FINDER.

Application filed July 8, 1918.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, GEORGE S. PYLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Seat-Finders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved device for use on theater chairs and particularly'seats in motion picture houses.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective means by which the vacant chair may be located and the rows thereof distinguished.

It is well known that when entering a darkened room a certain length of time is required for the eye to adjust itself to the dimly lighted interior and that during this interval of adjustment the person is unable to see or distinguish objects about him.

My invention aims to provide means by which the unoccupied seats will be indicated by reflected light of sufficient brilliancy that the eye will readily distinguish the same. I aim to accomplish this result without the use of small lamps or other illuminating means except that from the lights which are used for the regular illumi-- nation and which are generally located in the ceiling of the theater. To obtain these results I provide a reflecting surface on each seat which is universally adjustable so as to reflect the light from the ceiling lamps toward the aisle and is so arranged that when a person occupies a given seat their body will be interposed elther between the reflecting surface and the source of light or between the reflecting surface and the observer.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction combinations and arrangements of arts hereinafter described and more specifically pointed out in the appended claims; it being understood that changes in form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Referring to the drawings forming a part of this specification,

Figure 1- is a view in perspective showing a row of theater seats with my improved device attached thereto.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb, 24, 1929.

Serial No. 245,108. 1

of a bracket 4: which is attached to some portion of the chair by means of screws 5. lfevolubly mounted in this bracket is a stud 6 on the upper end of which is formed a circular head 7 and cooperating with this head is a similar member 8. These members are held together by means of a screw or rivet 9 and the inner faces are knurled or otherwise roughened as shown at 10.

Extending upwardly from the head 8 is a stud 11 on the upper end of which is mounted a frame 12 that contains a mirror or other reflecting surface 14. v

Means is provided for holding adjusted the stud 6 either by a suitable set screw 15 or by means of the conical headed screw 16 which expands the lower end of the stud in the opening through the bracket 4.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 4 the bracket 17 is provided with astud 18 and the latter in turn is provided with the spherical recessed socket 19. Seated in this socket is a ball 20 from which extends a neck 21 and having attached thereto the frame 22 similar to the frame 12 and containing the like reflecting surface 1 1.

The stud 18 and socket 19 are split as shown and an adjusting screw or other 5 means is provided by which the socket is clamped on the ball 18.

tered. Either of the forms here illustrated permit the adjustment of the mirror to any desired or necessary angle that the light will be reflected toward the aisle.

This device being small and extending only a short distance above the back of the chair is entirely cut oil from the source of light when the chair is occupied by a person. If the chair is not occupied light is reflected toward the aisle enabling a person standing therein to determine which seats are unoccupied.

Further, the use of these reflectors on the end seats serve to indicate the rows of chairs and thereby obviate the necessity of groping in the dark to even locate the position of the end chair. 1

While I have illustrated my device as being applied to the top of the chair back, it may also be applied on the rear or to some other part. The essential feature of my device is to provide a universally adjustable reflecting surface for directing light from a source above the chairs to a common point located about where the eyes of a person standing in the aisle would be positioned.

While I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention it will be understood that I do not wish to confine myself to the exact forms herein illustrated but wish to 1: cover also such modifications as properly fall within the scope of the claims.

1 claim as new and wish to cover by Letters Patent 1. The combination with the theater chair and the source of illumination above said chair, a reflector attached to said chair so that the beam of light reflecting thereby will be interrupted by the occupant of the chair.

light from said source of illumination, ad-.

justable means for attaching said reflector to said seat so that the reflected light therefrom will be directed toward a given point, and so that a person in the seat will be interposed between said reflector and said source of illumination.

l. The combination with a theater chair and a source of illumination, a reflector for the light from said source of illumination adjustable means for attaching said reflector to said seat so that the reflected light therefrom will be directed toward a given point and so that a person in the seat will be interposed between said reflector and said source of illumination.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GEORGE S. PYLE. 

